Quezon City launches telemedicine system for COVID-19

Published August 27, 2020, 4:35 PM

The local government of Quezon City has launched a telemedicine system in a bid to allow coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients seek consultation from doctors without seeing them in person.

Mayor Joy Belmonte said in a statement on Thursday that the QC COVID Telemed program, launched in partnership with the Department of Health (DOH), is an online medical consultation system for patients, particularly those undergoing home quarantine and those admitted in the city’s isolation facilities.

Belmonte said that the program aims to support the city’s healthcare workers “who are greatly exposed to the virus as it will lessen their exposure and contact with COVID-19 patients.”

“Through telemedicine, our doctors no longer need to physically visit their patients to do rounds. They can log on to the system and they can do online consultation with their patients,” she said.

Belmonte added that the program will also allow doctors who have comorbidities or are senior citizens to continue performing their profession without restrictions. 

Perry Dominguez, head of the Local Economic Investments and Promotions Office and project coordinator, said that the system could be the start of the digitalization of the city’s healthcare system. 

“We look forward to more developments in this system where eventually, patients with other illnesses will also be given the same opportunity to have their medical needs addressed,” he said.

A total of 15 laptops and desktops have been donated by the DOH for the city’s telemedicine operations, and will be distributed to the city’s HOPE isolation facilities and selected health centers.

SOURCE: https://mb.com.ph/2020/08/27/qc-launches-telemedicine-system-for-covid-19/